The Microbusiness Activity Index measures the strength and vibrancy of online-enabled microbusinesses—very small, often home-based enterprises that power local entrepreneurship. Using real-time domain and digital presence data from GoDaddy, the index tracks how many microbusinesses are active in our community, how engaged they are (website updates, online marketing, e-commerce activity), and how much digital economic activity they generate. This index provides a valuable window into Jacksonville’s grassroots economy—highlighting the neighborhoods where entrepreneurs are emerging, the local capacity for digital commerce, and the potential for inclusive economic growth driven by residents rather than large firms.
Why Does this Matter?
- Stronger local income and job growth
- Higher rates of self-employment and microbusiness activity are consistently linked to faster income and employment gains and to reductions in poverty at the county level in the U.S. Tracking the Microbusiness Activity Index helps Jacksonville monitor one of the underlying engines of local income growth and job creation, not just headline unemployment rates. 1
- Higher rates of self-employment and microbusiness activity are consistently linked to faster income and employment gains and to reductions in poverty at the county level in the U.S. Tracking the Microbusiness Activity Index helps Jacksonville monitor one of the underlying engines of local income growth and job creation, not just headline unemployment rates. 1
- Small business dynamism drives long-run growth
- Research on U.S. metro areas shows that a 10% increase in the birth of small businesses is associated with 1.3–2.2% higher employment, 2.4–4.0% higher annual payroll, and 1.2–2.0% higher wages over the following decade. The Microbusiness Activity Index is a way to see whether that kind of entrepreneurial “churn” is happening in Jacksonville’s neighborhoods. 2
- Research on U.S. metro areas shows that a 10% increase in the birth of small businesses is associated with 1.3–2.2% higher employment, 2.4–4.0% higher annual payroll, and 1.2–2.0% higher wages over the following decade. The Microbusiness Activity Index is a way to see whether that kind of entrepreneurial “churn” is happening in Jacksonville’s neighborhoods. 2
- Inclusive and neighborhood-level opportunity
- Studies of micro and small enterprises find that they play a significant role in poverty reduction, income generation, and local economic development, especially when they are embedded in communities and able to grow. Mapping microbusiness activity in Jacksonville helps identify where neighborhood-level opportunity is emerging and where additional support is needed to expand inclusive growth. 3
- Anil Rupasingha & Stephan J. Goetz, 2013. “Self-employment and local economic performance: Evidence from US counties,” Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 92(1), pages 141-161, March.
- Yong Suk Lee, Entrepreneurship, small businesses and economic growth in cities, Journal of Economic Geography, Volume 17, Issue 2, March 2017, Pages 311–343, https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbw021 \
- Ayalu, G., Abbay, A. G., & Azadi, H. (2022). The role of micro- and small-scale enterprises in enhancing sustainable community livelihood: Tigray, Ethiopia. Environment, development and sustainability, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02359-7
